Searched the site for recommended floor jacks, and many recommended "jack from Costco."

Just wonder if you all mean THIS one:

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...se=&lang=en-US

And another few questions about floor jacks in general:

the MAX height of the lift on this jack is @ 13-14 inches. Is this sufficient for working under? What do you look for in max lift height?

Am I correct that the jack stands can only be raised as high as the floor jack will lift it, no matter how high the jack stands are capable of lifting? If that's so I am not sure I can work under a car with only 13-14 in clearance.

 

That same jack is ~80 bucks at harbor freight. I have used it for the undertray removal and trying to get my exhaust tips to stick out the same length. For this it was fine.
12-13 inches is definitely not enough if you plan on being under your car for any amount of time... It could just be I'm a safety freak and hate being underneath the car. I ALWAYS use 4 jack stands and then have the jack as a backup near where I am working.

You almost have to use a jack like this unless you drive up on boards first, otherwise most jacks aren't going to fit under the car.

 

That's not enough for me, but I am also a bit claustrophobic (surprisingly, only under the car. Other tight spaces don't bother me). I bought a set from Sears that includes a creeper, two jackstands, and a 3-ton floor jack. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...Lift+Equipment

You'll need two additional jackstands. I like the setup, but need to exchange it as the jack is a bit messed up, it is no longer usable near the top of its travel. To get clearance with HDs and M030, I just back the rears onto a 2x12x18" wood block under each wheel.

 

That same jack is available at Pep Boys for around $100. I use it on both my 993 (ROW height) and 964 (SUV height) and it works perfectly. I use a 2x4 board on it to get an additional approx. 2" height. I find that it works well and jacks to a good height for light DIY work.

 

Yeah I have both, that one (the Harbor Freight branded one) and the larger Costco jack. The large one is what everyone is talking about in previous threads, not the one shown in your post. I didn't see the larger one online last time I looked, but they had it at my Los Angeles area Costco.

The small one works but it is frustrating due to the jack-it-up-get-a-stand-put-a-block-on-the-jack-jack-it-up-some-more-raise-the-stand routine you have to go through.

 

I have that same jack. I also have a bigger 2.5 ton jack, and a smaller 1 ton olde timey style jack - you really need at least two jacks. That little one works great for changing wheels, jacking axles when the car is already lifted, pushing up on gas shock ends, etc. The BIG one puts the car higher up to get all the jackstands under it. Lots of uses for that little one though. It's lightweight and easy to toss around the garage too.

 

thanks for typing all that out. So it can be done with a small stand: just gotta block it a few times. The small stand is lower, @ 3.25 inches high, and the bigger one starts @ 5 inches which I guess might be a problem once I lower the car a little bit.

 

The bigger jack I got from Costco slides under my car and Im just a little higher than RS

 

Go for the next larger model: it is likely to have a 19" lift, and more importantly, will have a sturdy front axle and much larger outboard wheels vs. the inboard roller of the item shown.
As the jack lifts, either it rolls freely to stay centered under the lift point, or the whole issue becomes unstable. The larger front end really helps ...

BTW, if you toss the coin for two jacks, it is far safer ( and convenient) to raise the car from both sides simultaneously . Even though I now have a hoist, for certain jobs, it is easier to use floor jacks. Also, if doing suspension work, it can make life esaier to have a spare jack to pressure a control arm, etc., while the other is occupied.

 

Yes. +1 on the previous post. I just bought the next size up model at Costco. Lifts 3 tons and raises to about 18-19 inches. Only paid $139 and seems much, much more sturdy. Can't go wrong with the quality and price.

JD

 

That's not the Costco jack that I have. If your car is too low, just drive it up/back it up on some small, wood ramps and jack it up from the either the engine or the rear jacking point. Insert jack stand. Lower.

 

Garth S, and Mark in Baltimore,

Do you mean this jack from Costco: see below? If so, it is bigger and it's the same price!

and Garth, you mean lift from both sides as in the jacking points left and right, with floor jacks instead of transferring to jack stands after lifting just at the engine block?

 

Jim,

No, mine does not look like that leviathan.

 

oh well....those are the only two on their Website. May not have yours anymore, or maybe a local thing.

 

+1

No problem getting under my car either and it is just below RS Height.